Shocking bystander footage has been released of a police officer in San Antonio, Texas, slamming a 12 year old girl on the ground face-first at a middle school.

The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave and is being investigated for excessive force after he threw the resisting student violently to the ground.

The disturbing video does not show what led up to the event, but surrounding students can be heard asking the girl “are you ok?” with no response. Spokeswoman for the school district said that the officer was breaking up a verbal argument between two girls. Surrounding students told reporters that the young girl had kicked the officer, but the victim denies this and told her mother that she wasn’t fighting.

Regardless of whether the victim acted out or not, the violence shown by the officer against a 12 year old girl is not only excessive, it is absolutely criminal.

Sydney Robinson is a political writer for the Ring of Fire Network. She has also appeared in political news videos for Ring of Fire. Sydney has a degree in English Literature from the University of West Florida, and has an active interest in politics, social justice, and environmental issues. She would love to hear from you on Twitter
@SydneyMkay or via email at srobinson@ringoffireradio.com